This is the second volunteering program organized by the Italian association Vagamondo. This year's project lasted from June 12 to July 12, 2023 and united 18 volunteers from India, France, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Hungary and Spain for one goal – to improve the landscaping of the municipality of Bergolo, which is in the Piedmont region, in the province of Cuneo.
Each week, the volunteers were divided into small international teams, whose tasks were: weeding the road to the theater, cleaning up garbage from the streets of Bergolo, cooking and arranging the area around the tent city, making tourist wooden signs and creating media content about their activities.
"I liked making tourist signs the most. This is a very interesting process, as we ourselves had to saw the boards, cut the letters, apply them to the future signs, paint and burn them out. The latter was my favorite class," – recalls the student.
In addition, the volunteers were involved in the organization of social events. Concerts were held in the local theater almost every week. "I loved going to concerts. They always had their own fabulous, unique atmosphere. Thanks to this volunteering, I attended an instrumental music concert for the first time in my life. And these are really incredible feelings. I wish I had attended such events before," – shares her impressions the volunteer.
During the project, volunteers had 9 days off and one extra day to go to the pool. Thanks to the availability of bikes, the participants managed to visit many cities and nearby villages.
"I have traveled in every way this month: by bike, by buses, and on foot! But what I saw was worth the effort. In 9 days, I managed to walk the old streets of Levice, enjoy the beauty of Prunetto Castle, taste the most delicious gelato ever in Alba, swim in the Ligurian Sea in Savona, soak my hands in the thermal water fountain in Acqui Terme, see a fishing village in Genoa at sunset and to try pizza with tuna in Turin," – recalls Valeriia with a smile.
In 29 days, the volunteers were not only able to improve the landscaping of a small municipality in the mountains, but also to become one big family. They will remember table tennis games, playing cards, dancing, singing and heart-to-heart conversations on the terrace for a long time after returning to the Motherland.
“It was a truly transformative experience for me. "Volunteering Summer Fest 2" made me more determined, more stress-resistant and more confident in myself and my decisions. Moreover, I feel that I have improved my oral communication skills, I feel more free and, of course, I have found many new friends with whom we continue to communicate!" – the student does not hide her enthusiasm.
It should be recalled that Poltava Polytechnic students have the opportunity to study abroad under grant programs of credit academic mobility for a semester at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden.
For more detailed information on academic mobility programs, please contact the international department of the National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" (room 320 F).
For reference:
The international program "European Solidarity Corps" provides all young people aged 17 to 30 with an opportunity to do international volunteering in organizations or government agencies in Europe, the UK, Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Turkey and 23 other participating countries of the program in Africa, Asia or South America for 2-12 months.
For its participants, this is a unique opportunity to gain practical work experience, get to know local residents, their culture, traditions, immerse themselves in a foreign language environment, which will help improve foreign language skills and soft skills. Upon completion of the project, participants are provided with a certificate confirming completion of the European Solidarity Corps program. You independently choose one of 10 areas, including inclusion, prevention of natural disasters, integration of refugees and migrants, environmental protection, culture, and sports. The program covers traveling, accommodation, language learning and out-of-pocket expenses. This is one of thousands of EU opportunities for Ukraine. Learn more.
Financing:
A participant is provided with accommodation, meals, and all transportation as well as insurance costs during their stay abroad.
Participation format:
Individual:
- can last from 2 months to 12 months;
- full-time work (from 30 to 38 hours per week);
- allows you to contribute to the day-to-day running of an organization that actively benefits the local community;
- in some cases you can participate for a shorter period of time (2 weeks to 2 months) – for example, for participants with fewer or more limited capabilities.
Teamwork:
- can last from 2 weeks to 2 months;
- full-time work (from 30 to 38 hours per week);
- you work as a volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries;
- the group will consist of 10-40 volunteers;
- usually located abroad, but may also be in your country.
Selection criteria
- level of English B2. The presence of a certificate confirming the level of proficiency is not mandatory.
Search for volunteering opportunities at the link.
Previously, the Polytechnic scientist studied the possibilities and advantages of ESC volunteering programmes – volunteer programs of the European Solidarity Corps and presented her own experience of implementing a wide variety of projects.
Also, during the spring semester, five female university students studied under the Erasmus+ long-term academic mobility program at the Transport and Telecommunication Institute in the city of Riga, Latvia, where they combined studies with traveling and learning new languages and cultures.
In addition, representatives of the Polytechnic became the first Ukrainians to participate in the academic mobility program in Greenland, where they studied and taught under the Erasmus+ programme, as well as studied the local language and culture and told Greenlanders about the war in Ukraine.
Previously, a philology student became a participant in the Erasmus+ mobility project of youth workers in Turkey, a Poltava Polytechnic student became a participant in the "Study Tours to Poland" grant program, a philology student became a participant in a youth exchange dedicated to inclusion in Romania, Polytechnic students took part in a youth exchange dedicated to discrimination and gender inequality, studied the conservation of natural resources and economic growth of young people with the help of a healthy lifestyle, a translation student became a participant in the youth project against discrimination, xenophobia and bullying, Polytechnic students took part in the Erasmus+ project dedicated to the development of environmental awareness of Europeans, and held charity auction, philology students mastered practical skills in the field of ecology and environmental protection, considered the problem of alcohol addiction and methods of combating it, raised the level of awareness of cultural diversity, studied the problem of displaced persons/migrants and internally displaced persons.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
